Plaxico Burress Sentenced To 2 Years In Gun Case

NEW YORK — Former Super Bowl hero Plaxico Burress apologized to his family and tearfully kissed his wife and young son goodbye Tuesday before he was led away to prison to begin serving a two-year sentence on a weapons charge.

Burress, at the time a star receiver with the New York Giants, was at the Latin Quarter nightclub in Manhattan last November when a gun tucked into his waistband slipped down his leg and fired, wounding him in the thigh.

The gun was not licensed in New York or in New Jersey, where Burress lived. His license to carry a concealed weapon in Florida had expired in May 2008.

He had been indicted on two counts of weapons possession and one count of reckless endangerment, but under a plea deal reached Aug. 20, Burress agreed to a single, lesser charge of attempted criminal possession of a weapon.

No charges were filed against Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce, who was with Burress the night of the incident, drove him to the hospital and took the gun to his home in New Jersey before arranging to have it returned to Burress.

Burress arrived in the courtroom Tuesday wearing a jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt, a stark contrast to the dark blue suit he wore last month when he entered his guilty plea.

He was accompanied by his pregnant wife, Tiffany; his almost 3-year-old son, Elijah; his father, grandmother and stepmother.

He told Judge Michael Melkonian before sentencing: "I want to apologize to my family." They did not speak to reporters as they left the courthouse.

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With time off for good behavior, Burress likely will serve 20 months. He could be released from prison as early as the spring of 2011 and will be monitored an additional two years after he is freed.

Burress hired a consultant to teach him how to use his time in prison productively.

The Giants released Burress in April, but the 32-year-old told ESPN he hopes to resume his NFL career when he completes his sentence.

"When I get out, I'll be 33, not 43," Burress said in an interview broadcast in August. "I'll still be able to run and catch. I'll still have the God-given ability to snag footballs; that's what I love to do. Of course, I want to play again."

Gil Brandt, an analyst on NFL Sirius Radio and the former head of player personnel for the Dallas Cowboys, said Burress won't be too old for a comeback when he's released from prison.

"First of all, Plaxico is a guy who keeps himself in pretty good shape," Brandt said. "Lots of times guys get heavy in the off-season. He is not a guy who has done that."

Burress is suspended by the NFL, but the league said he will be reinstated after he completes his prison sentence.

The star receiver played collegiately for Michigan State and in 2000 was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he built a reputation as one of the league's top deep threats. He signed as a free agent with the Giants before the 2005 season.

Burress' big moment with the Giants came when he caught the winning touchdown over the previously undefeated New England Patriots in the final minute of the 2008 Super Bowl.

His attorney, Benjamin Brafman, said previously that Burress was thinking of his family – including his wife and young son, Elijah – in taking the plea, but Brafman questioned the fairness of the recommended prison sentence.

"This was not an intentional criminal act," Brafman said the day of the plea. "In my judgment, a two-year prison sentence is a very severe punishment."

Before sentencing Tuesday, Brafman called Burress "a fundamentally decent man."

"This is a very real tragic case in many, many ways," Brafman said.

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Associated Press Sports Writer Tom Canavan contributed to this report from East Rutherford, N.J.

Comments

[Richard Rafter]

Should have stayed with the Steelers, Plax!

PA gun laws are far from unconstitutional.

[dailyrev]

Once again, the reaction of the collective is every bit as stupid and senseless as the original transgression. There is no good that can come to anyone from putting this man in stir. This society is going to have to come with more creative alternatives to iron bars. http://dailyrevolution.net/?p=76100]

[bluejoewho]

Another day, another black man sent to prison.

There is no way a rational person can justify 2 years in prison for shooting oneself in the leg.

This is down right ridiculous.

[lovbug]

There are so many perfect people in New York City, if you believe this comment board. Never did anything illegal in their lives...hmmm. That's life, we can't all be perfect. He who is without sin, let them cast the first stone. But, there is a higher power that sees and knows everything in one's heart and soul.

[quindy]

I hope he appeals and is successful. This is travesty of justice. We had a vice president who shot man in the face and didn't have to answer for it. We have here a man that was never in trouble and is now in jail for two years for hurting himself!? How can that be justice? I understand that it is illegal to carry guns in NYC, but please, this man could do some wonderful community service and not be on tax payers' pocket for nothing.

[ImissBush]

"catches""
get it?

[victorsays]

This is stupid. There is no consistency in the law. 2 years? That is pretty harsh. He harmed himself and he get 2 years?

I guess the white establishment want to set an example.

[havbrush]

This is sad. Back when the incident happened a Washington Redskins player had just been killed during a home invasion, three NBA players had been robbed at gunpoint in different incidences and athletes were being targeted around the country by opportunistic thugs. What Burress did was stupid but it was not criminal. He's 6'5" tall and stands out in any crowd so it is somewhat understandable because of the climate at the time that he would want to protect himself in a public place. Of course what he should have done was hire a body guard. He didn't and we all know what happened. He should not, however, be targeted himself by an over zealous mayor and an inflexible judge. Two years is too much.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/22/plaxico-burress-sentenced_n_294617.html

[winningticket]

If it were in my power, I wouldn't have given him a day of jail time, but I would have slapped him with a heavy fine; however.

[jimbeaux1961]

I keep reading all these comments about how he got to much time. His lawyer says it "wasn't an intentional criminal act". Well, yes it was. Maybe he didn't intend to shoot someone, I'm sure he didn't intend to shoot himself, but he DID intend to carry a concealed weapon into a crowded bar and then drink liquor, and he's OBVIOUSLY reckless with a loaded gun. I'm also not convinced of his devotion to his wife and children. He was at a night club drinking and womanizing when he shot himself. He was using his wife and kids in an obvious attempt to elicit sympathy from the judge. They gave him a plea deal with reduced time. The sentence he got was the minimum under sentencing guidelines.

[icu360]

I was a fan of Plax as a member of the Giants but what he did was stupid. He completely melted down over the 8 months prior to the shooting. The night he shot himself went like this:

He is out at a restaurant eating dinner when he gets a call from a teammate asking Plax to pick him up on his way to the club. Plax agrees to but first stops at home to get his gun (red flag).
He picks up both teammates and heads to the club. At the door the bouncer searches Plax and discovers the gun. Plax explain that he needs it because he has a lot of cash and bling on him (red flag).
While holding drinks the gun goes off and the rest is history. He went to different hospitals because he wanted anonimity while receiving treatment for his wounds (he knew carry the unregistered gun was illegal) (red flag).
The sentence was too harsh but stupidity and arrogance can put you in a compromised position where others will dictate your future.

[mrcontinental]

Should have bought a firearm with a safety Plax; Glocks are not for shoving in your pants without a holster.

[theiccemann]

It's sad that judges and politicians play with people's lives just for their own selfish motives. Karma moves without emotion. It comes back. It always does.

[theiccemann]

I don't even like Burress, and I can tell you that this is a bunch of crap. They used him, badly. Anyone else who would shoot themselves, would have gotten the agony of the pain, as their punishment. If he was not known, he would have just gone on with his life.

I want to know, when is there going to be a policing of due process of law? Why are we letting politicians and professors of law manipulate and use the law for their own convenience and prowess? This is why people do not respect the law, nor the people who say that they represent it.

[Carol06095]

He should not have gotten any time. Community service, suspended sentenace, probation. Stupidity doesn't deserve this much jail time.